Second opinions - what happened to Isabella?

[Tom Tom]

Years ago, I thought I had worked out what happened to Isabella, but was never quite sure that I was correct. Having revisited it, I have discovered I was wrong, but can't work out what the correct answer is.


This is what is known:

Isabella Fotheringill married Jonathan Nicholson at Holy Trinity, Washington, Durham, 9 Mar 1818.

Isabella was christened in 1794 in Tanfield, Durham.

Her ages and birth is recorded as follows:

1841: Aged 50, born c1791.
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8978&h=4951868&ssrc=pt&tid=29137161&pid=212101403153&usePUB=true

1851: Aged 57, born c1794, Beamish, Durham.
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8860&h=14701900&ssrc=pt&tid=29137161&pid=212101403153&usePUB=true

1861: Aged 69, born c1792, Beamish, Durham
https://search.ancestry.co.uk/cgi-bin/sse.dll?indiv=1&dbid=8767&h=12663381&ssrc=pt&tid=29137161&pid=212101403153&usePUB=true

Jonathan died in a pit accident in 1869 in Monkwearmouth Pit. His death is registered by Coroner's report.

I think this is Isabella in 1871, but the details are slightly out:

Aged 75, born c1796, Durham.
https://www.ancestry.co.uk/discoveryui-content/view/16831854:7619?ssrc=pt&tid=29137161&pid=212101403153

There is a death of an Isabella Nicholson, aged 78 in May 1871 in Houghton le Spring, but I have ruled this one out as it was registered by son Ralph (mine didn't have a Ralph), was widow of John (mine was Jonathan) and I have found them as a couple on other census.

My Jonathan was buried here:
http://durham-images.org/public/cemeteries/mkb/n/ni002.html

I see that also buried here is an Isabella Nicholson, widow, aged 72 in 1878, so would be rather out for age.

Can anyone see any other likely deaths for her?


Thanks for looking.

[maggie_4_7]

Tom

The 1871 census link goes to the one on your tree and it's private so we can't see it.

[Tom Tom]

Tom

The 1871 census link goes to the one on your tree and it's private so we can't see it.

Sorry Maggie! Thanks for letting me know. I have put the correct link in now.

[maggie_4_7]

Sorry Maggie! Thanks for letting me know. I have put the correct link in now.

The 1871 is definitely Isabella it's same address that is on Jonathan's burial details.

I will take a look for Isabella or where she is buried.

[JayG]

Tom have you looked at the burial records and grave records on Familysearch to see if anyone else is buried in the same grave as Jonathan?

[Tom Tom]

Thanks for the suggestion Jay. I had thought of that, but the website I linked to didn't have any details about who was buried with who and I wasn't aware this was on FamilySearch. I've had a look on there, but not sure I can see it.
I would also have thought they are likely to (although not definitely), have been buried in common graves.

[Tom Tom]

The 1871 is definitely Isabella it's same address that is on Jonathan's burial details.

I will take a look for Isabella or where she is buried.

Thanks Maggie.

[Tom Tom]

I think the 1878 death is unlikely to be my Isabella as the address is given as 3 Bk Brook Street. In 1881, there is a Ralph living at 3 Brook Street, who is presumably her son.

Back to the drawing board...

[maggie_4_7]

I did have a look in quite a few places but nothing stands out that could be Isabella's burial.

Can't find her on census after 1871.

If she was at the same address as on 1871 census when she died, I am assuming she didn't last long after Jonathan, it would be Sunderland registration district and there are a couple of entries on GRO that could be her between 1871 and 1881 but the ages are out.

[marquette]

I would be looking more closely at any burials/deaths in the probable area - I have often found that ages are incorrectly recorded (in the census, or death certs or burial records) - either by the informant who guessed, or transcribed wrongly.

I discounted a death because it was listed as 3, but the certificate showed it was 3 months.